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Trapped by your major? 10 women with jobs completely unrelated to their college studies

Graduation season is upon and it's easy to feel trapped by your major. While these paths might once have been clear cut, it's now clearer than ever that what you study for four years in undergrad doesn't have to dictate or limit what you do after graduation. Here are 10 stories you should read.

Trapped by your major? 10 women with jobs completely unrelated to their college studies

Graduation season is upon us, which means a new class of graduates has been ejected from the sweet cocoons of their universities into the unforgiving real world. Some are probably wondering: What can I possibly do with this American Studies degree and Ethnomusicology minor?

It's easy to feel trapped by your major, the feeling that English majors must become English teachers; bio majors, lab coat-donning scientists; and econ majors sequestered to Wall Street. While these paths might once have been clear cut, it's now clearer than ever that what you study for four years in undergrad doesn't have to dictate or limit what you do after graduation. Often, the skills you learn in one discipline can translate in surprising and helpful ways to seemingly unrelated fields.

Not convinced? Ahead, we talked to 10 women who reflect on their college majors and how they led to the jobs they have now. From a philosophy major who works at a hedge fund to a public health major who now works for a chef, these women show that degrees don't always lead where you think they will in the work world.

"Changing careers is the thing I'm most proud of doing"

While you were in college, what did you think you'd do for work after graduation?

"I thought I'd get a PhD in biochemistry or go to medical school, but I do nothing like that now."

How did you end up in your current industry/job?

"My first job out of college was as a lab tech at a medical center at a school in NYC, which allowed me to take some courses at the school that were unrelated to my work. I was lucky enough to have a boss who understood that being a lab tech is generally a two- to three-year job before you move onto something else. I took an electrical engineering course first, and then the professor suggested I take a coding class, Intro to Java, to see if I liked it. I loved it, and continued to work and take computer science and security classes for two years. Then, I went to a local computer security meet-up and met someone who offered me a job doing penetration testing of web applications as a contractor. That lasted about five months, and then I moved on in the same position at a couple of bigger companies, which I've been doing for the last three years."

Even if your college major didn't give you specific skills for your line of work, did it prepare you for your current job in some way?

"Ha! Now that I've been doing this work for a while, I laugh when people tell me what a jump there is from biochemistry to computer security. The two are actually very similar. My biochemistry research experience focused on the origins of prostate cancer and, separately, the genetics of renal development. Both of those are black boxes: you feed it some input, examine the output, and come to a conclusion. Rinse and repeat. Analyzing a network device is the exact same thing. The lingo is different, but the process of breaking something down and analyzing it as a system that takes some input and produces some output has held true across both fields. Changing careers is the thing I'm most proud of doing."

"I was waitressing and then found customer support jobs at startups."

While you were in college, what did you think you'd do for work after graduation?

"I thought I would end up doing freelance editing or working for a TV network."

How did you end up in your current industry/job?

"A few factors caused me to 'give up' on editing. My family (specifically my mom) had some mental health issues that caused me major stress at the end of college. I am actually *one* college class away from graduating due to this, and have not been able to take the one class, despite being so many years out of college. I think this caused me to somewhat give up on the dream, but it also taught me to just be happy when my life isn't chaotic. I also moved to NYC from California at this time, which further disrupted my life. I was waitressing and then found customer support jobs at startups, and ending up liking those jobs because I could work remotely. I've been at my current company for a couple of years, and on the best of days I can say I don't mind the work, but my coworkers are great and I love working from home. I do wish I had some creative outlet, though, a lot of times!"

"The age-old advice is true — it really is who you know"

While you were in college, what did you think you'd do for work after graduation?

"I had no idea what I wanted to do until my last year of undergrad. I figured a marketing-related job like advertising, research, or public relations would be a great fit for me, since I enjoy writing and being creative — until the rejection letters started piling in. What I do now might be considered a different form of marketing — instead of outreach to potential or current clients, I'm helping develop targeted proposals to win business with potential or current customers."

How did you end up in your current industry/job?

"The age-old advice is true — it really is who you know. My dad's friend was working for this little drone company in the Pacific Northwest, where I always wanted to live. (I grew up in Texas, and did undergrad in Arizona.) They had a position open for a proposal intern, which I jumped on, and I've been here ever since. It's not always the sexiest job, but I enjoy what I do!"

Even if your college major didn't give you specific skills for your line of work, did it prepare you for your current job in some way?

"Having to solve problems, prioritize tasks, stay organized, and work with a diverse group of people did give me a taste of the 'real world' of work, but I will say that I never use anything I learned in my marketing courses. I wish my university had provided more practical classes that taught more relevant concepts/programs."

"People think that finance-related work is very number heavy — and it can be — but my role is unique."

While you were in college, what did you think you'd do for work after graduation?

"In college, I was dying to be an English major, but one of the stipulations my parents had for paying for college was that I couldn’t be one. So once I graduated, I wanted to work in publishing. But after trying it out for a year, I did a complete 180 and ended up in finance."

How did you end up in your current industry/job?

"I applied like crazy to entry level analyst roles before landing at my current job — it was really difficult, because I was applying off-cycle (people usually start in these roles right out of school or land at a firm where they previously interned) and had to interview with six people and present a huge project on an industry I knew nothing about, where I was grilled by the interviewers about finance and my knowledge of the company."

Even if your college major didn't give you specific skills for your line of work, did it prepare you for your current job in some way?

"Yes — the writing and critical thinking skills you get from philosophy and political science are actually very valuable when looking at stocks, industries, and markets. People think that finance-related work is very number heavy — and it can be — but my role is unique in that it’s extremely writing-heavy and requires a lot of qualitative synthesis."

"Weirdly enough, I do use some of my ancient Greek vocabulary when I help companies with branding."

Name: LindsayAge: 28Location: SeattleJob: Writer/Editorial ConsultantSalary: I'm self-employed, and my salary varies HUGELY. At my last job, I was making $37,700, which is low for most copywriters in this area.College Major: Classics (Ancient Greek & Latin)

While you were in college, what did you think you'd do for work after graduation?

"I had no idea, and that was part of the problem when I graduated. I chose a major I loved because it was rigorous, the faculty support was incredible, and the subject matter was fascinating to me. When I started college, I thought I wanted to be an actor, but quickly realized that that life didn't appeal to me after all. Classics didn't provide a clear post-grad path either, and in fact, our professors cautioned us not to pursue graduate school in the field unless it was the only thing we could possibly imagine doing. I regret not making more of a plan, because that would have saved me a few stressed out, lost years, but I did get to experiment between the ages of 22 and 25 as a result, and that experience turned out to be invaluable for me."

How did you end up in your current industry/job?

"I swerved a lot. My senior year of college I had an internship (that turned into a job) with a food website that gave me a good look at web publishing and writing, something I always enjoyed. I nannied for a few years as well to make ends meet. I picked up a few odd jobs, went on several interviews for 'holding pen jobs' that I thought would tide me over until I found something I was more interested in pursuing, and wound up working for a friend's mom, who had just founded a startup. I literally started out counting inventory and putting together IKEA furniture. Then one day my boss came up to me and said, 'So, you like to write?' — and that was a critical moment.

"Because we were such a small company, I was able to take over the copywriting and marketing (relying heavily on my prior experience at the food website) though I was new to the field. I do have a lot of writing experience, but until this job, it was always kind of a fall-back for me — something I did when I couldn't think of anything else to do, not because I thought I was actually skilled at it. This job completely changed my mind and gave me a ton of confidence.

"I just left that job to start my own business as an editorial consultant. I've learned that I need a lot of variety in order to stay challenged and invested in something, so I'm branching out and seeking writing work in other fields, and getting more experience with branding and website design as well. I've reached a point in my life and career where I want more responsibility and managerial expertise, and if running my own business doesn't teach me that, I don't know what will!"

Even if your college major didn't give you specific skills for your line of work, did it prepare you for your current job in some way?

"Absolutely. I like to joke that I graduated and suddenly realized, "Oh, so nobody needs a 22-year-old ancient Greek translator?" but I wouldn't change a thing about picking that major. I learned to research and write clearly about complex topics, and most of my best jobs have depended on those skills. On a more abstract level, though, studying classics and writing my senior thesis taught me how to be extremely organized and how to ask for help when I need it. I actually still use some of the study techniques I developed during that process to manage my business. And weirdly enough, I do use some of my ancient Greek vocabulary when I help companies with naming and branding. Who says it's a dead language?"

"I picked up a host job at a restaurant the summer after graduation on a whim"

While you were in college, what did you think you'd do for work after graduation?

"I thought I’d get a Master's in public health, then work for an NGO, a hospital, or a healthcare organization. But I don’t do ANYTHING like that now — I work for a chef!"

How did you end up in your current industry/job?

"I picked up a host job at a restaurant the summer after graduation on a whim, and fell in love with the industry. I had cold feet about jumping in entirely, but knew I wanted to work in the field full-time down the line. I started working at a software startup that sold HR software — totally unrelated to my interests, but I just wanted to test out the corporate world for a bit. I hated that job, but learned a lot about HR — and when a job in HR at a local restaurant group opened, I jumped at it. After a year and a half in that role, I moved into a new role as a chef's assistant."

Even if your college major didn't give you specific skills for your line of work, did it prepare you for your current job in some way?

"Not directly, but I learned a lot about time management and prioritization in my major. I also went to school in New Orleans, so I definitely learned how to eat while I was there!"

People work at desks in an office.(Photo: The Motley Fool)

"In my career I haven't been afraid of raising my hand or challenging opinions."

While you were in college, what did you think you'd do for work after graduation?

"I remember changing my mind about what I wanted to do after graduation about three times while I was in college. I don't remember ever wanting to go into a career related to my degree. I thought maybe I'd work in PR, advertising, or marketing. I imagined I'd be in a much more more creative role than I'm in now. My day-to-day is far more data-oriented than ever thought it would be."

How did you end up in your current industry/job?

"I graduated in the recession, so I felt I just needed to get a job doing something. A family member advised I look into doing something sales-related, I found a graduate job in London in advertising sales marketing. After four years, four companies and a few promotions, I realized this wasn't what I wanted to be doing forever. A friend of mine had recently completed her first semester at business school in the States, and I thought it sounded really interesting, so I started investigating different schools and took the GMAT. When I finished my MBA, I knew I didn't want to be paying back my debt for ~20 years and living paycheck-to-paycheck, so I went down the more traditional route of applying to large companies. I wasn't expecting to love my job as much as I do. I like my team, I enjoy the work that I do, and most importantly, I see the opportunity for growth and variety. Over the years, I've learned that as long as I'm consistently challenged by new opportunities and given the chance to develop, I will be happy."

Even if your college major didn't give you specific skills for your line of work, did it prepare you for your current job in some way?

"At my college we had small classes (between two and six people, sometimes just me and a professor) held once a week, with some lectures. A lot of my time was spent studying by myself and writing essays. This taught me a lot about self-motivation and it taught me how to self-teach. In my career, I've learned a lot of what I know about data and Excel by teaching myself online and through just being inquisitive. The small class sizes also meant there was no place to hide — and in my career, I haven't been afraid of raising my hand or challenging opinions."

"Even though I don't really work with art or kids, I love what I do now."

While you were in college, what did you think you'd do for work after graduation?

"I wanted to be a museum educator and plan educational programs for art museums. Even though I don't really work with art or kids, I love what I do now — the industry is always changing, and it does allow for some creativity."

How did you end up in your current industry/job?

"I was working in an administrative job and decided to learn some basic coding languages — HTML, CSS, Javascript — online in my free time. I told a friend of mine about my pursuit and she put me in touch with the digital marketing manager at the nonprofit she worked for. I ended up loving the job, and being able to use my administrative Excel skills as well as my new tech skills."

Even if your college major didn't give you specific skills for your line of work, did it prepare you for your current job in some way?

"Art History is a field where you really learn to pay attention to the details. That has factored into every job I've had since graduating — not everyone is detail-oriented, and it is a big plus if you catch things no one else notices. Also, a big chunk of my day is spent picking stock photos, so knowing about composition, color, and design basics really helps me pick interesting and compelling photos."

"My degrees equipped me with the knowledge and ability to succeed in any field."

While you were in college, what did you think you'd do for work after graduation?

"I thought I'd work in politics or policy in the public sector. My first job was in government relations for a public company (private sector) and I definitely loved it, but the company culture was very old school and I didn't see myself thriving personally in the city I was located in. I moved to Southern California for personal reasons and found that my experience and degree didn't really translate to the economic opportunities in Orange County."

How did you end up in your current industry/job?

"After relocating, I found that PR, public affairs, and marketing were all areas where I had transferable skills. After about six weeks of unemployment (four of which I spent in a yoga-teacher training — 100% worth it!) I started going stir-crazy, and settled for a job in PR. I've learned a lot and have found a lot of uses for my base knowledge and the writing and analytical skills that my liberal arts degrees taught me, but my job is definitely lacking some of the depth and analysis that I craved when I set out to major in economics and political science."

Even if your college major didn't give you specific skills for your line of work, did it prepare you for your current job in some way?

"Yes, absolutely. Critical thinking, data analysis, Excel, and writing were huge focuses of both of my degrees. These skills are invaluable and I am grateful that my degrees equipped me with the knowledge and ability to succeed in any field."

"I needed to find a stable position with benefits"

While you were in college, what did you think you'd do for work after graduation?

"Curating at small museum or gallery after returning to school for a curating program."

How did you end up in your current industry/job?

"I had my son two months after graduating college and needed to find a stable position with benefits. The career center recommended looking into benefits, and I started searching all of the major bank websites. I ended up as a collector and applied for and was promoted to my current position a year later."

Even if your college major didn't give you specific skills for your line of work, did it prepare you for your current job in some way?

"My time as a TA for the art department helped me with managing large groups of people. The writing skills I picked up also helped with the reports I regularly write."

*Name has been changed for anonymity.

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